بانَت حَسينَةُ وَاِئتَمَّت بِمَن بانا

بانَت حَسينَةُ وَاِئتَمَّت بِمَن بانا

وَاِستَحدَثَت لَكَ بَعدَ الوَصلِ هِجرانا

وَاِستَحدَثَت لَكَ بَعدَ الوَصلِ هِجرانا

Husayna departed and followed those who departed.

Husaynah turned away and broke with those she turned from

And after union she brought you new estrangement.

And made separation from you after union

وَما حُسَينَةُ إِذ قامَت تُوَدِّعُنا

وَما حُسَينَةُ إِذ قامَت تُوَدِّعُنا

لِلبَينِ وَاِعتَقَدَت شَذراً وَمُرجانا

لِلبَينِ وَاِعتَقَدَت شَذراً وَمُرجانا

And Husayna, when she rose to bid us farewell

Husaynah, when she stood to bid us farewell

at parting, wearing gold beads and coral,

For the separation, gathering aloes wood and coral

إِلّا مَهاةُ صَريمٍ حُرَّةٌ خَذَلَت

إِلّا مَهاةُ صَريمٍ حُرَّةٌ خَذَلَت

مِن وَحشِ أَعفَرَ أَو مِن وَحشِ نَيّانا

مِن وَحشِ أَعفَرَ أَو مِن وَحشِ نَيّانا

was only a purebred oryx of the sands that left her herd,

Is nothing but a howling wild she-camel who was let down

from the wild herds of Aʿfar or of Nayyan;

By a black or lead-colored wild beast

أَو ظَبيَةٌ مِن ظِباءِ الحُوَّةِ اِبتَقَلَت

أَو ظَبيَةٌ مِن ظِباءِ الحُوَّةِ اِبتَقَلَت

مَذانِباً فَجَّرَت نَبتاً وَحُجرانا

مَذانِباً فَجَّرَت نَبتاً وَحُجرانا

or a gazelle of al-Huwwa's gazelles, grazing

Or a gazelle of the gazelles of Huwah who became disgusted

stream-end hollows bursting with herbage and ḥujrān.

Turning aside bursting forth with herbage and pebbles

مَجَّ الرَبيعُ بَها الوَسمِيُّ ريقَتَهُ

مَجَّ الرَبيعُ بَها الوَسمِيُّ ريقَتَهُ

فَأَنبَتَت نَفَلاً رُؤداً وَحَوذانا

فَأَنبَتَت نَفَلاً رُؤداً وَحَوذانا

The early rainy season spat its spittle there,

Spring in its most beautiful garb brought its meadows to flower

so it grew tender clover and buttercups.

Where she grazed, sprouting freely herbage and cardamom

تَحنو إِلى أَكحَلِ العَينَينِ رانَ بِهِ

تَحنو إِلى أَكحَلِ العَينَينِ رانَ بِهِ

نَومُ النَهارِ فَما يَنفَكُّ وَسنانا

نَومُ النَهارِ فَما يَنفَكُّ وَسنانا

She bends tenderly toward a dark-eyed fawn, overcome

Yearning for the kohl of your eyes, days and nights cease not

by daytime sleep, so that he remains ever drowsy.

To sleep not parting from longing for you

يَأبى إِذا طَمَعَت أَن يَستَنيعَ لَها

يَأبى إِذا طَمَعَت أَن يَستَنيعَ لَها

إِلّا مُخالَفَةً عَنها وَخُذلانا

إِلّا مُخالَفَةً عَنها وَخُذلانا

When she hopes he will respond to her, he refuses

When she hoped it would be possible for her, it refused

all but turning away from her and forsaking her.

Except to oppose her and let her down

بِكرٌ تُرَبِّبُهُ آثارَ مُنبَعِقٍ

بِكرٌ تُرَبِّبُهُ آثارَ مُنبَعِقٍ

تَرى بِهِ جُفَناً زُرقاً وَغُدرانا

تَرى بِهِ جُفَناً زُرقاً وَغُدرانا

A firstborn, she nurtures him in the wake of a cloudburst,

A young camel who inspires awe in the vestiges of one departing

where you see blue bowls of water and pools.

You see in it a blue eyelid and perfidy

إِذا هِيَ اِطَّلَعَت مِن رَوضَةٍ هَبَطَت

إِذا هِيَ اِطَّلَعَت مِن رَوضَةٍ هَبَطَت

أُخرى يَظَلُّ بِها العَيسوبُ حَيرانا

أُخرى يَظَلُّ بِها العَيسوبُ حَيرانا

When she emerges from one meadow, she descends into

When she appears from one garden she descends into

another, where the dragonfly spends the day bewildered.

Another where the wild cows wander confused

وَلَن تُقَلَّبُ في أَرضٍ تُلِمُّ بِها

وَلَن تُقَلَّبُ في أَرضٍ تُلِمُّ بِها

إِلّا وَجَدتَ بِها لِلهِ ضيفانا

إِلّا وَجَدتَ بِها لِلهِ ضيفانا

And you will not roam any land you visit

She will never be tossed about on a land where

without finding guests of God there,

She won’t find in it two guests of God

مِن خَلقِهِ فَهوَ يَكسوهُم وَيَرزُقُهُم

مِن خَلقِهِ فَهوَ يَكسوهُم وَيَرزُقُهُم

يَوماً وَيَوماً وَلَن يَسأَلنَ أَثمانا

يَوماً وَيَوماً وَلَن يَسأَلنَ أَثمانا

among His creatures: He clothes them and provides for them

Among His creation, He clothes them and provides for them

day after day, and never asks a price.

Day after day, never asking a price

لَهُنَّ رَبٌّ حَفِيٌّ لا يُضيعُ وَلا

لَهُنَّ رَبٌّ حَفِيٌّ لا يُضيعُ وَلا

يَخفى عَلَيهِ خَفِيٌّ حَيثُ ما كانا

يَخفى عَلَيهِ خَفِيٌّ حَيثُ ما كانا

They have an attentive Lord, who neglects none, nor

For them is a Guardian, Protecting, who does not waste nor

does anything hidden escape Him, wherever it may be.

Escape His knowledge wherever they may be

ذو قُدرَةٍ لَيسَ طولُ الدَهرِ زائِدَهُ

ذو قُدرَةٍ لَيسَ طولُ الدَهرِ زائِدَهُ

مِنهُنَّ بُعداً وَلا عَنهُنَّ غَفلانا

مِنهُنَّ بُعداً وَلا عَنهُنَّ غَفلانا

Possessed of power, whom the length of time makes no more

With power which the passage of time does not increase

distant from them, nor heedless of them.

For them distance, nor from them inattention

إِنَّ الوَليدَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ قَضى

إِنَّ الوَليدَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ قَضى

أَمراً يُبَلِّغُهُ الأَدنَونَ أَقصانا

أَمراً يُبَلِّغُهُ الأَدنَونَ أَقصانا

Indeed, al-Walid, Commander of the Faithful, decreed

Indeed al-Walid, Commander of the Faithful, decreed

a command the nearest convey to the farthest of us:

A matter which the low and high alike would convey

قَضِيَّةً عَصَمَ اللَهُ العِبادَ بِها

قَضِيَّةً عَصَمَ اللَهُ العِبادَ بِها

فَأَصبَحوا في كِتابِ اللِهِ إِخوانا

فَأَصبَحوا في كِتابِ اللِهِ إِخوانا

a decree through which God protected His servants,

A decree by which God protected the servants

so they became brothers in God's Book,

And they became in the Book of God brethren

بَعدَ الشِقاقِ وَأَضغانٍ مُبَيَّنَةٍ

بَعدَ الشِقاقِ وَأَضغانٍ مُبَيَّنَةٍ

وَميتَةٍ كانَ فيها حينُ مَن حانا

وَميتَةٍ كانَ فيها حينُ مَن حانا

after discord and manifest rancors,

After discord and clear rancor

and death, in which the doomed met their end.

And forbidden killing which occurred when it occurred

فَأَصبَحَ الأَمرُ بَعدَ اللَهِ قادَتُهُ

فَأَصبَحَ الأَمرُ بَعدَ اللَهِ قادَتُهُ

بَنوا الألى غَضِبوا مِن قَتلِ عُثمانا

بَنوا الألى غَضِبوا مِن قَتلِ عُثمانا

Thus, after God, the leaders of affairs were

So the matter after God its leaders have become

the sons of those angered by Uthman's killing,

The children of Al who were angry over the killing of Uthman

الآمِرونَ بِتَقوى اللَهِ أُمَّتَهُم

الآمِرونَ بِتَقوى اللَهِ أُمَّتَهُم

وَالكائِنونَ عَلى المَعروفِ أَعوانا

وَالكائِنونَ عَلى المَعروفِ أَعوانا

who enjoin their community to fear God,

Commanding piety to God regarding their nation

and stand as helpers in what is right;

And being well-wishers of good, aides

وَالقائِلونَ أَتَينا كُلَّ مَكرُمَةٍ

وَالقائِلونَ أَتَينا كُلَّ مَكرُمَةٍ

قُدّامَنا فَحَصوا عَنها لِأُخرانا

قُدّامَنا فَحَصوا عَنها لِأُخرانا

and who say, 'We have attained every noble deed;

And saying, “Every glorious thing has come before us

our forebears sought it out for our later generations.'

So present to us in it others than ourselves”

عِندَ الشَديدَةِ حَيٌّ يَستَفيدُ لَهُم

عِندَ الشَديدَةِ حَيٌّ يَستَفيدُ لَهُم

مَن يَشرَبُ الماءَ من راضٍ وَغَضبانا

مَن يَشرَبُ الماءَ من راضٍ وَغَضبانا

At a crisis, a clan wins over for them

In severity alive who benefits for them

all who drink water, willing and angry alike.

Him who drinks the water willingly and unwillingly

لَولا الإِلَهُ وَأَهلُ الأُردِنِّ اِقتَسَمَت

لَولا الإِلَهُ وَأَهلُ الأُردِنِّ اِقتَسَمَت

نارُ الجَماعَةِ يَومَ المَرجِ نيرانا

نارُ الجَماعَةِ يَومَ المَرجِ نيرانا

But for God and the people of Jordan, it would have split—

Were it not for God and the people of Jordan it would have ignited

the community's fire—into many fires on the day of al-Marj.

The fire of the community on the day of turmoil

كانوا زواراً لِأَهلِ الشامِ قَد عَلِموا

كانوا زواراً لِأَهلِ الشامِ قَد عَلِموا

لَمّا رَأَوا فيهِم جَوراً وَأَضغانا

لَمّا رَأَوا فيهِم جَوراً وَأَضغانا

They were visitors to the people of Syria; they understood

They were visitors to the people of Syria who knew

when they saw injustice and rancor among them.

When they saw among them injustice and hatred

تَواعَدوا مَوعِداً حَتّى إِذا اِجتَموَعوا

تَواعَدوا مَوعِداً حَتّى إِذا اِجتَموَعوا

ساروا جَميعاً وَقالوا اللَهُ مَولانا

ساروا جَميعاً وَقالوا اللَهُ مَولانا

They agreed on a rendezvous; then, when they assembled,

They made an appointment until when they gathered

they marched together and said, 'God is our Protector.'

They marched altogether and said “God is our Master”

فَلَم يَكونوا غَداةَ الزَحفِ أَكثَرَهُم

فَلَم يَكونوا غَداةَ الزَحفِ أَكثَرَهُم

في الصَفِّ صَفّاً وَلا في الخَيلِ فُرسانا

في الصَفِّ صَفّاً وَلا في الخَيلِ فُرسانا

On the morning of the advance, they were not the most numerous among them

On the morning of the march most of them were not

in battle ranks, nor in cavalry horsemen,

In the ranks row upon row or among the horses horsemen

وَلا بَصيرَةُ أَمرٍ يَهتَدونَ بِهِ

وَلا بَصيرَةُ أَمرٍ يَهتَدونَ بِهِ

كَالصُبحِ يَعرِفُهُ مَن كانَ يَقظانا

كَالصُبحِ يَعرِفُهُ مَن كانَ يَقظانا

nor was their insight into the cause that guided them

Nor insight into the matter by which they would be guided

like dawn, which anyone awake recognizes,

Like the dawn which the vigilant recognize

غَداةَ يَدعونَ وَالأَبصارُ خاشِعَةٌ

غَداةَ يَدعونَ وَالأَبصارُ خاشِعَةٌ

يارَبَّنا وَلِيَنَّ الأَمرَ أَتقانا

يارَبَّنا وَلِيَنَّ الأَمرَ أَتقانا

on the morning they prayed, with eyes humbly lowered:

On a morning calling while eyes were humbled

'Our Lord, let the most God-fearing of us take command!'

“O our Lord, make sincere the authority”

فَبَيَّضَ اللَهُ يَومَ المَرجِ أَوجُهَهُم

فَبَيَّضَ اللَهُ يَومَ المَرجِ أَوجُهَهُم

بِنَصرِهِ وَبِسَيفِ اللَهِ مَروانا

بِنَصرِهِ وَبِسَيفِ اللَهِ مَروانا

So God brightened their faces on the day of al-Marj

So God whitened on the day of turmoil their faces

through His victory, and through God's sword, Marwan,

With His victory and by the sword of God, Marwan

وَبِاِبنِهِ بَعدَهُ عَبدُ المَليكِ فَقَد

وَبِاِبنِهِ بَعدَهُ عَبدُ المَليكِ فَقَد

زادوا ذَوي عَقلِنا شُكراً وَإيمانا

زادوا ذَوي عَقلِنا شُكراً وَإيمانا

and through his son after him, ʿAbd al-Malik; indeed,

And by his son after him, Abd al-Malik, so indeed

they increased the gratitude and faith of our men of understanding.

They increased the gratitude and faith of reasonable minds

ثُمَّ اِصطَفى اللَهُ لِلإِسلامِ بَعدَهُما

ثُمَّ اِصطَفى اللَهُ لِلإِسلامِ بَعدَهُما

مِن أَهلِ بَيتِهِما نوراً وَبُرهانا

مِن أَهلِ بَيتِهِما نوراً وَبُرهانا

Then God chose for Islam, after those two,

Then God chose for Islam after the two of them

from their household, a light and a proof.

From the people of their house, a light and clear proof

رَأى الوَليدُ لَها أَهلاً فَمَلَّكَهُ

رَأى الوَليدُ لَها أَهلاً فَمَلَّكَهُ

وَاِختارَ مِنّا الَّذي يَرضى وَأَرضنا

وَاِختارَ مِنّا الَّذي يَرضى وَأَرضنا

He deemed al-Walid worthy of it, and made him king,

Al-Walid saw him worthy so appointed him sovereign

and chose from us the one He approves, and pleased us.

And chose from us one whom he approved and we approved

فَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ إِذ وَلّى خِلافَتَنا

فَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ إِذ وَلّى خِلافَتَنا

وَأَمرَنا خَيرَنا ديناً وَأَقوانا

وَأَمرَنا خَيرَنا ديناً وَأَقوانا

So praise be to God, who entrusted our caliphate

So praise be to God when He delegated to us the Caliphate

and our affairs to the best of us in faith and the strongest,

And ordered for us the best in religion and most just

مُرَّ العُداوَةِ يَشقى الكاشِحونَ بِهِ

مُرَّ العُداوَةِ يَشقى الكاشِحونَ بِهِ

حُلواً إِذا لَم تَرِبهُ ريبَةٌ لانا

حُلواً إِذا لَم تَرِبهُ ريبَةٌ لانا

bitter in enmity, making those who harbor hatred suffer,

Bitter enmity brought misery to the obstinate through it

sweet—when no suspicion troubles him, he is gentle.

Sweet when no suspicion troubles it

نَحنُ الرَعِيَّةُ وَالرَحمَنُ يَحفَظُنا

نَحنُ الرَعِيَّةُ وَالرَحمَنُ يَحفَظُنا

وَأَنتَ في الأَرضِ بَعدَ اللَهِ تَرعانا

وَأَنتَ في الأَرضِ بَعدَ اللَهِ تَرعانا

We are the subjects, and the All-Merciful protects us;

We are the flock and the Merciful protects us

and you, on earth, after God, watch over us.

And you upon the earth after God tend us

قَضى عَلَيهِم لَهُ في الحَقِّ قَد عَلِموا

قَضى عَلَيهِم لَهُ في الحَقِّ قَد عَلِموا

جَهدَ النَصيحَةِ إِسراراً وَإِعلانا

جَهدَ النَصيحَةِ إِسراراً وَإِعلانا

He imposed upon them, as his due in justice—as they know—

He ruled against them - for him in truth they knew

their utmost sincere loyalty, in private and in public.

The utmost sincere counsel secretly and openly

يَرَونَ طاعَتَهُ لِلَّهِ رَبَّهُم

يَرَونَ طاعَتَهُ لِلَّهِ رَبَّهُم

رِضىً وَعِصيانَهُ لِلَّهِ عِصيانا

رِضىً وَعِصيانَهُ لِلَّهِ عِصيانا

They see obedience to him as bringing God, their Lord,

They see obeying him as obeying their Lord

pleasure, and disobedience to him as disobedience to God.

And disobeying him as disobeying God

فَأَنتَ غَيثٌ بِإِذنِ اللَهِ أَرسَلَهُ

فَأَنتَ غَيثٌ بِإِذنِ اللَهِ أَرسَلَهُ

لِلمُسلِمينَ حَياً وَالأَرضِ عُمرانا

لِلمُسلِمينَ حَياً وَالأَرضِ عُمرانا

For you are rain that, by God's leave, He has sent

You are by God's permission a rain He sent

as life-giving showers for Muslims, and renewal for the earth.

Reviving the Muslims and prosperity to the land

فَلا تَرى نائِلاً يَجري كَنائِلِهِ

فَلا تَرى نائِلاً يَجري كَنائِلِهِ

وَلا كَبُنيانِهِ في الأَرضِ بُنيانا

وَلا كَبُنيانِهِ في الأَرضِ بُنيانا

You see no bounty flowing like his,

You see none attaining like your attainments

nor any building on earth like his building.

Nor buildings in the land like your buildings

بَنى مَساجِدَ لِلإِسلامِ جامِعَةً

بَنى مَساجِدَ لِلإِسلامِ جامِعَةً

وَلَم يَدَع بَيتَ إِشراكٍ كَما كانا

وَلَم يَدَع بَيتَ إِشراكٍ كَما كانا

He built congregational mosques for Islam,

He built mosques for Islam gathering

and left no house of polytheism as it had been:

And left no house of idols as it had been

كَنيسَةً حَدَرَت عادٌ حِجارَتَها

كَنيسَةً حَدَرَت عادٌ حِجارَتَها

مِنَ الجِبالِ الَّتي شَرقِيَّ لُبنانا

مِنَ الجِبالِ الَّتي شَرقِيَّ لُبنانا

a church whose stones ʿAd had brought down

A church whose stones the `Aad quarried

from the mountains east of Lebanon,

From the mountains, the eastern slopes of Lebanon

مِن كُلِّ أَبهَمَ يَكسو الثَلجُ ذِروَتَهُ

مِن كُلِّ أَبهَمَ يَكسو الثَلجُ ذِروَتَهُ

حَتّى فَشا وَبَدا في الصَيفِ عُريانا

حَتّى فَشا وَبَدا في الصَيفِ عُريانا

from every forbidding mountain whose summit snow cloaks,

From each thumb the snow covers its peaks

until it melted away and the peak stood bare in summer;

Until it melted and appeared in summer bare

صَعبُ الشَواهِقِ مُغبَرٌّ بِناكِبِهِ

صَعبُ الشَواهِقِ مُغبَرٌّ بِناكِبِهِ

تَرى بِهِ المُعفَراتِ العُصمَ أَخدانا

تَرى بِهِ المُعفَراتِ العُصمَ أَخدانا

rugged in its high peaks, dusty on its flanks,

Rugged precipices dusty in its declines

where you see tawny, white-legged ibex in company.

You see in it etching out ravines

بِهِ كُلومُ صَوافيرٍ مُذَكَّرَةٍ

بِهِ كُلومُ صَوافيرٍ مُذَكَّرَةٍ

تَرُنُّ مِنهُ ضَواحي الصَخرَ إِرنانا

تَرُنُّ مِنهُ ضَواحي الصَخرَ إِرنانا

In it are the wounds of hardened pickaxes,

In it are the flutes of whistling pipes

from which the exposed rock faces ring and resound.

Repeating from it the echoes of the rocky valley

بَنوا قَناطِرَهُ حَتّى إِذا جَعَلوا

بَنوا قَناطِرَهُ حَتّى إِذا جَعَلوا

لَهُ مِنَ الجَندَلِ العادِيِّ أَركانا

لَهُ مِنَ الجَندَلِ العادِيِّ أَركانا

They built its arches, until, when they had set

They built its aqueducts until when they made

for it pillars of ancient massive stone,

For it from common stone pillars

فَأَحسَنَ الصُنعَ بَنّاءوكَ وَاِرتَفَعوا

فَأَحسَنَ الصُنعَ بَنّاءوكَ وَاِرتَفَعوا

فَوقَ الَّذينَ تَغَنّوا فيهِ أَزمانا

فَوقَ الَّذينَ تَغَنّوا فيهِ أَزمانا

your builders perfected the work and rose

So excellent was the work of your builders, they rose

above those who sang in it for ages.

Above those who were sung of in bygone times

كَسَوهُ مِن عَمَلِ الصُنّاعِ مُلتَهِقاً

كَسَوهُ مِن عَمَلِ الصُنّاعِ مُلتَهِقاً

يَكادُ يَختَطِفُ الأَبصارَ عِقيانا

يَكادُ يَختَطِفُ الأَبصارَ عِقيانا

They clothed it in the craftsmen's work, with gleaming

Covered with the work of artisans joined together

pure gold that almost snatches sight away.

Almost snatching sight with its brilliance

كَأَنَّهُنَّ قِياسُ الصَيفِ إِذ طَرَدَت

كَأَنَّهُنَّ قِياسُ الصَيفِ إِذ طَرَدَت

كَنَهوَراً فَزَحَتهُ الريحُ رَيّانا

كَنَهوَراً فَزَحَتهُ الريحُ رَيّانا

As though they were summer's bows, when they chased

As if they are the rainbows of summer when

a towering cloud, which the wind swept along, rain-laden.

It has scattered its pearls and the wind made them quiver

إِذا حَدَت قُزَحٌ مِنهُ سَحابَتَها

إِذا حَدَت قُزَحٌ مِنهُ سَحابَتَها

رَأَيتَ مِنهُ مَعَ الشَؤبوبِ أَلوانا

رَأَيتَ مِنهُ مَعَ الشَؤبوبِ أَلوانا

When Quzah drove its cloud away from it,

When Suhail sheds its clouds from it

you saw its colors amid the downpour.

You see from it with the rainy clouds colors

وَكانَ أَمرُكَ في أَهلِ الطَوانَةِ مِن

وَكانَ أَمرُكَ في أَهلِ الطَوانَةِ مِن

نَصرِ الَّذي فَوقَنا وَاللَهُ أَعطانا

نَصرِ الَّذي فَوقَنا وَاللَهُ أَعطانا

Your undertaking concerning the people of al-Tawana came from

Your command regarding the people of Tawwana was of

the aid of Him above us; and God granted us

Victory beyond us and God gave victory

أَمراً شَدَدتَ بِإِذنِ اللَهِ عُقدَتَهُ

أَمراً شَدَدتَ بِإِذنِ اللَهِ عُقدَتَهُ

فَزادَ في دينِنا خَيراً وَدُنيانا

فَزادَ في دينِنا خَيراً وَدُنيانا

an undertaking whose knot you tightened by God's leave,

A matter you made firm by God's permission its knots

adding good to our religion and our worldly life.

Increasing good in our religion and world

وَكانَ بُزَّةُ ما أُعطيتَ مِن حَسَنٍ

وَكانَ بُزَّةُ ما أُعطيتَ مِن حَسَنٍ

نَصراً عَزيزاً وَتَثبيتاً وَبُرهانا

نَصراً عَزيزاً وَتَثبيتاً وَبُرهانا

And the raiment of the good you were given was

The acme of the good you were given was

mighty victory, firmness, and proof:

Mighty victory, stability, and clear proof

نُعمى مِنَ اللَهِ زادِ المُسلِمينَ بِها

نُعمى مِنَ اللَهِ زادِ المُسلِمينَ بِها

تُقىً وَكانَت بِحَمدِ اللَهِ عِرفانا

تُقىً وَكانَت بِحَمدِ اللَهِ عِرفانا

a blessing from God, through which He increased the Muslims'

Blessings from God increased the piety of the Muslims through it

piety; and, praise be to God, it brought understanding.

And with praise to God it was recognition